Blackburn Rovers 1 Manchester United 1: Rooney holds his nerve to clinch historic league title

Rooney drove home a disputed penalty 17 minutes from the end to earn the deciding point against Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Requiring only a draw to lift the 12th championship of Sir Alex Ferguson’s incredible reign, United had fallen behind in the first half when Brett Emerton’s far-post drive gave Blackburn a shock lead.

With Tomasz Kuszczak’s nerves affecting his team-mates, for a while United looked to be heading for a nerve-jangling final-day ending with Blackpool.

But help was at hand in the form of Rovers’ former Leeds United goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who needlessly slid out on Javier Hernandez.

Much to Robinson’s frustration, the Mexican went down and after referee Phil Dowd had restored order, Rooney drilled home to finally knock Liverpool off the perch they had shared with the Red Devils.

“I was terrified, the ref took a long time to give it,” said Rooney. “I had to compose myself, I’d been practising all week.”

Making reference to his transfer request and contract dispute earlier in the season, Rooney added: “After the year I’ve had, with the ups and downs, this one is for the fans and the team.”

United’s 19th title is one more than Liverpool, and former Everton striker Rooney said: “For me personally, being an Everton fan, to win a 19th title is special.”

Travelling north in their thousands to herald a record title and put a damper on anything that might happen at Wembley a couple of hours later, United being behind at half-time simply was not in the script.

The visitors had played with the confidence of a team who felt they were about to become champions, stroking the ball around efficiently and creating plenty of space around the Rovers box.

But that killer ball was missing.

After Nani had thudded a close-range header against the bar with only three minutes on the clock, United just could not find their range.

Nani cut a shot past the near post, Ryan Giggs brought an excellent save out of Robinson and Wayne Rooney’s chip sailed narrowly over.

But United looked less likely to score as that opening period went on.

This would not have been too bad if Blackburn were scoreless too.

However, a combination of their perilous league position and being piqued at having their own position completely overlooked in the scramble to acclaim the men from Old Trafford, they approached their task with a fierce sense of determination.

Christopher Samba had already been slightly unlucky that Phil Dowd had ruled his excellent effort out for a foul on Nemanja Vidic when Emerton drifted a cross-shot to the far-post.

Kuszczak tried to push the ball away from danger but succeeded only in keeping it in play, which allowed Martin Olsson to retrieve it.

After exchanging passes with Junior Hoilett, Olsson crossed to the far post where Emerton finished with an excellent first-time effort.

It nearly got worse for United when Michel Salgado’s cross from the other side of the pitch dropped nicely for Olsson, whose shot was disappointingly off-target.

However, Ferguson must have been questioning the wisdom of his only concession to United’s position, offering 40-year-old Edwin van der Sar a rare break, as Kuszczak had twice almost been caught in possession, having dwelt on routine back passes for far too long.

Quite apart from putting United’s celebrations on hold, it also highlighted just what a tough job Ferguson faces in making sure the veteran Dutchman’s replacement is a worthy successor.

Hernandez has already proved his value to the Red Devils’ cause this season.

The Mexican was not having one of his better days though, failing to collect Giggs’s through ball that would have sent him clear of the Blackburn defence.

More weak goalkeeping from Kuszczak forced Rio Ferdinand into a rushed clearance before Olsson nodded Emerton’s cross against a post with the United goalkeeper nowhere.

Another cross by Emerton led to Ferdinand getting rather too close to heading into his own net for the central defender’s liking.

The hesitancy Kuszczak created had spread through the United defence.

Normally the strongest of partnerships, Vidic and Ferdinand crashed into each other as they tried to complete a routine interception on halfway.

Something needed to go United’s way. Robinson’s rashness provided it. The former England goalkeeper complained bitterly at the outcome but it is hard to imagine any striker not going down in such circumstances when the pair collided.

Blackburn were angry. Not angry enough to warrant caution being thrown to the wind in an attempt to win though. Their top-flight survival fight will go down to the last day, when United will receive the Premier League trophy as the most successful team in English league history.

Delighted defender Ferdinand said: “We missed out last year by a point and it was here we pretty much lost the league (with a 0-0 draw) so it was nice to come back here and get it done.

“We gave away a soft goal but we persevered and got our rewards. To get it done this week makes it easier for the manager, I’m sure.”

Giggs, winning his 12th title, added: “It’s a tough league to win and it still feels as special as ever.

“We have the desire and it’s a pleasure to play in this team. All we want to do is win trophies.”